RCAS to extend contracts of administrators

ROGERS CITY – Members of the Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education voted to extend the contracts of the district superintendent, as well as its high school and middle school principal and other administrators Monday.

Superintendent Katy Xenakis-Makowski’s contract has been extended through June 30, 2016, after receiving a positive review by the board in December of last year. She and board President Michael Marx began negotiating a contract in January, which was presented to the board for approval.

“I appreciate the confidence and support, and look forward to continuing the education of our students,” she said.

The board also voted to extend Principal Dave O’Bryant’s contract by three years, as well as adding the duties of athletic director to his contract. The district is consolidating the positions to save money, Xenakis-Makowski said. Pat Lamb, the current athletic director, will take another position with the district.

“We looked at a deficit budget for several years,” she said. “We need to consolidate as many resources as possible, and that was one area where we chose to consolidate.”

The move is expected to save the district around $17,000 per year, Xenakis-Makowski said. O’Bryant will take over the athletic director’s duties over the summer, and officially take the title in August.

The board also approved one-year contract extensions for Business Coordinator Robin Hughes, Administrative Assistant Carol Radka and Food Services Supervisor Diane Schultz. Their contracts, along with Xenakis-Makowski’s and O’Bryant’s, were changed to reflect state laws concerning health insurance caps.

In other business:

board members set June 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school library as the date, time and location for a public hearing on the district’s 2013-14 budget. The budget is still in the works, Xenakis-Makowski said, and schools across the state still don’t know for certain what they’ll receive in state funding.

the board accepted the resignation of O’Bryant as girls varsity basketball coach. He left the position because he’s busy as it is, and will be taking on the additional duties of athletic director, he said. On top of that, he and his wife have a new baby.

“I can’t put the time into it I need to right now,” he said.

the board voted to approve the Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Services District’s budget, and also voted to cast a vote for Henry Axford, Dennis Budnick and Sherry Huff for the ESD board election.